Rug cleaning attachment for polishers



June 15, 1965 R. M. BEARDSLEE 3,183,659

RUG CLEANING ATTACHMENT FOR POLISHERS 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 8,1963 INVENTOR. ROBERT M. BEARDSLEE ATTORNEY June 15, 1965 R. M.BEARDSLEE 3,188,669

RUG CLEANING ATTACHMENT FOR POLISHERS 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 8,1965 June 15, 1965 R. M. BEARDSLEE RUG CLEANING ATTACHMENT FOR POLISHERS4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed 001,. 8, 1965 INVENTOR. ROBERT M. BEARDSLEEATTORNEY June 15, 1965 R. M. BEARDSLEE RUG CLEANING ATTACHMENT FORPOLISHERS 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Oct. 8,. 1965 INVENTOR. ROBERT M.BEARDSLEE ATTORNEY 3,188,669 RUG CLEANENQ ATTAQHME T FUR PQLISHERSRobert M. Beardslee, =Cleveland, @hio, assignor to General ElectricCompany, a corporation of New York Filed Get. 3, 1963, Ser. No. 314,7333 (Ilaims. (Cl. 15-93) This invention relates to a rug cleaning device,and more particularly, to an attachment to be used with a rotary floorpolisher for cleaning rugs.

Many attempts have been made to develop satisfactory rug cleaningdevices for home use; however, none of them have been completelysuccessful. One approach has been to provide plates which fit over thebrushes of a usual rotary floor polisher in order to provide a surfacewhich will work a rug cleaning solution into the rug without damagingthe rug in a manner that a rapidly rotating stiff brush would do. Whenfloor polishers including such attachment are used to clean rugs, thecleaning solution must first be applied to the rug in a liquid form,which results in an undesirable wetting of the rug.

Another approach has been to provide a self-contained rug cleaningappliance. Those self-contained rug cleaning appliances which aremanually operated must depend upon the inherent cleaning power of therug cleaning solution used in order to clean rugs because they have nomechanical means for successfully working the solution into the rug toachieve satisfactory cleaning. There are some powered self-contained rugcleaning appliances in the prior art; however, they are rathercomplicated units and require a substantial investment. Since thecleaning of rugs is only a periodic operation in the average household,the purchase of a separate powered rug cleaning device is an unwiseinvestment even though it results in satisfactory results when used.

A11 object of the present invention is to provide a convenientattachment for use with the usual rotary floor polisher to clean rugs.

Another object is to provide a simple, inexpensive and effective devicefor cleaning rugs.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will i become apparentas the following description proceeds and the features of novelty whichcharacterizes my invention will be pointed out with particularity in theclaims i annexed to and forming part of this specification.

The present invention is directed to a rug cleaning attachment whichfits on a rotary floor polisher in place of the usual brushes. Incarrying out the invention, in one form thereof, the rug cleaningattachment includes a foamer receptacle. The receptacle has an agitatorwhich draws air into the receptacle and mixes it with rug cleaningsolution to form a foam. The foam fiows out of the receptacle and ontothe rug. The foam is then worked into the rug by two spoked applicatorswhich are mounted on the driving studs of the polisher for rotationtherewith. One of the applicators is in driving relation with a shaft onwhich the agitator is mounted so that rotation of the applicators bothworks the foam into the rug and drives the agitator to produce the foam.

For a better understanding of the invention, reference may be had to theaccompanying drawings in which:

PEG. 1 is a perspective View of a rotary floor polisher used with oneembodiment of this invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a rug clean ing attachment foruse with the rotary polisher of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the rug cleaning attach- :ment with thecover of the foamer receptacle removed for purposes of illustration;

PEG. 4 is a cross-sectional View taken along line 3-4 of FIG. 3;

3,1885% Patented June 15, 1965 FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view takenalong line 5--5 of FIG. 4, and

FIG. 6 is a partial top view of the rug cleaning attachment with aportion of the foamer receptacle cover broken away for purposes ofillustration.

FIG. 1 illustrates a rotary floor polisher 1 with which the device ofthis invention may be employed. The floor olisher comprises a lowerhousing 2 which encloses a motor unit 3 and from which extends anelongated handle 4. The motor unit 3 is connected to a pair of drivingstuds (not shown) upon which are normally mounted the brushes which areused to scrub or polish. The upper end of the elongated handle 4 isprovided with a hand grip 5 to be grasped by the user for moving thepolisher over the iloor. Power is supplied to the motor 3 through thepower cord 6 and the motor may be turned on and oil by means of aconventional switch.

A container 7 is mounted on the handle 4 to store a cleaning solution ifthe polisher is being used for a cleaning urpose or a liquid wax if thepolisher is being used for the application of wax. A conduit 8 isprovided extending from the lower end of the container 7 to transfer theliquid stored in container 7 to work area. The reiease of liquid fromcontainer 7 is controlled by means of a switch 9 which is mountedadjacent the hand grip 5 and is connected by means of a rod 10 to avalve located within the container 7. A switch cam lock 9a is providedto lock the switch 9 in an open position to provide a constant supply ofliquid from the container 7. When liquid is used with the polisher 1, aseparate splash guard 11 is provided to prevent the polisher fromunnecessarily scattering liquid over too large an area.

The present invention, in one embodiment thereof, includes a foamproducing and applying apparatus which is attached to the driving studsin place of the usual brushes. As may be seen in FIG. 2 the attachmentincludes a base plate 12 provided with a pair of openings 13 and 14. Apair of disk shaped applicators 15 are provided for working a rugcleaning foam into the rug in order to cleanse a rug. The applicators 15are structurally the same and, therefore, only one will be described.Each applicator is provided with a central hub 16 which extends throughone of the openings 13 and 14 in base piate 12 and is secured therein bymeans of a split ring 1'7. The central hub of each applicator isprovided a recess 16a which receives one of the driving studs of thepolisher so that the rug cleaning attachment may be easily mounted on tholisher in lieu of the usual brushes. A number of outwardly extendingspaced ribs or spokes 1% connect the central hub to an outer annular rim1% and form a number of spaced openings 2% between the spokes. Theannular rim 19 is formedwith an outwardly extending lower ledge 21 andan upwardly extending wall 22.

In order that one of the applicators 15 may function as a power sourcefor the foam producing apparatus a resilient band 24 is mounted aroundthe wall 22 of that applicator (the one shown on the right in FIG. 2).The wall 22 of each applicator is provided around its periphery with anumber of outwardly extending tabs Q5 which function to retain the band24 on the applicator. Only one band is necessary in each attachment.Each applicator is formed with a convex lower surface 27 so that foamwill flow under the edge of the applicator and fill the openings 21) inorder to smoothly spread the foam over the rug (as may be seen in FIG.4). A dis tribution plate 28 is attached to base plate 12 adjacent theapplicators 15. The distribution plate 28 includes a horizontal portionextending above a portion of the applicators with a downwardly extendingprojection 29 which extends between the applicators and a pair of walls39 and 31 which extend downwardly from the front of the distributionplate 28. The projection 29 and walls 30 and 31 confine the foam toinsure proper distribution over the rug.

A housing 32 is attached to the upper side of base plate 12 and receivesa foamer receptacle or cup 33 (as may be seen in FIG. 3). A rotatableagitator 34 is provided in the receptacle33 to produce foam from the rugcleaning solution by drawing air into the receptacle through suitableopenings and mixing it with thesolution. The agitator-34 is mounted onone end of a shaft 35 by means of screw 36 and lock Washer 37. The shaft35 extends through an opening 38 in receptacle 33 and through an opening39 in base plate 12.

Shaft 35 bears against resilient band'24 and is driven thereby in orderto rotate the agitator 34. Slippage between shafit 35 and the band 24 isprevented by having shaft 35 formed with a knurled portion (as shown at40) which contacts the band 24.

The housing 32 is mounted on base plate 12 by means of screws 41 and 42with screw 42 extending through an elongated opening 43 in base plate 12to facilitate movement of the housing in order to bring the knurledportion 40 of the shaft intoengagement with the band 24. For biasing theshaft into engagement with the band 24, the structure last shown in FIG.5 is employed. A spring 44 is mounted between a tab 45 which is upturnedfrom base plate 12 and a post 46 which extends downwardly from housing32. The spring 44 biases the housing for movement toward the right tobring the shaft 35 into firm driven contact withthe resilient .band 24.The screw 42 and elongated opening 43 provides a secure mounting of thehousing 32 on the base plate 12 while still allowing the biasingmovement.

-The upper side of the housing 32 is closed by means of a plate 47 whichis attached to the housing by screws 48. The plate 47 is provided with anumber of air-admitting openings 49 through which air is drawn into thereceptacle by means of the agitator 34 for mixing with the cleaningfluid.

Cleaning fluid is provided to the receptacle 33 by means of a flexiblefeed tube 50. The feed tube St is provided at each end with a rigidconnecting member 51. One connecting member is inserted in conduit 8while the other connecting member is received in a slot 52 provided inan upwardly extending tab 53 formed in housing 32. In this mannercleaning fluid stored in container 7 is discharged through conduit 8 andfeed tube into receptacle 33 where it is mixed with air to form acleaning foam.

As may be seen from FIG. 3 the housing 32 is provided with side walls 54and 55 and a bottom wall 56 which together with plate 47, form a foamchute 57 which guides the foam from the receptacle 33 to the rug. Twosmall openings 58 and 59 are provided in the housing 32 at the inner endof the foam chute 57 to provide a path for the foam between thereceptacle 33 and the foam chute 57. In FIG. 4 it may be clearly seenhow the foam indicated by numeral 60 flows outwardly over the top of thereceptacle33 through the small openings 58 and 52 and down through thechute 57 to the rug.

A bearing 61 is placed about the shaft 35 between the housing 32 and thereceptacle 33 so that the shaft and agitator are freely rotatable withinthe housing 32 and receptacle 33 without unduly wearing any of theelements.

, From FIG. 4 it may be seen that one of the rigid connecting members 51extends sufficiently over the receptacle 33 that fluid being dischargedfrom the connecting member 5 1 falls directly on the agitator 34 Withoutinterfering with the outward flow of foam from the'receptacle 33.

In order to clean rugs, the rug cleaning attachment is placed on thepolisher by inserting the central hubs 16 over the driving studs of thepolisher and connecting the feed tube 50 to conduit 8. When the switch 9is moved to the open position, cleaning fluid drains from the lower endof they container 7 through the conduit 8 and feed tube i 59 onto theagitator 34. The motor 3 is energized, rotating the driving studs andthereby rotating the applicators 15. Through one applicator 15 resilientband 24 and shaft 35 the agitator 34 is also rotated. Agitator 34 drawsair into the receptacle 33 through the openings 49 and mixes it with thecleaning fluid to form a foam which flows out through the top ofreceptacle 33, the openings 58 and 59 and the chute 57 to the rug. Theapplicators 15 rotate through the foam. Since the lower surface 27 ofeach applicator is convex, part of the foam will flow 1 under the outeredge of the lower surface and into the recesses 26? formed between thespokes 18. This action spreads an even coating of foam over the rug andthe spokes18 work it into the rug for thorough cleaning. The splashguard 11 prevents foam from being thrown onto undesired parts of therug.

After the foam has been thoroughly worked into the rug, the rug isallowed to dry and then the dry foam and loosened dirt are removed byuse of a vacuum cleaner.

Modifications of this invention will occur to those skilled in the art;and it is desired to be understood, therefore, that this invention isnot to be limited to the particular arrangement disclosed, but that theappended claims are meant to cover all modifications which are withinthe subject and scope of this invention.

What I claim as new and desire to claim by Letters Patent of the UnitedStates is:

1. A rug cleaning device for operative attachment to a motor drivenrotary floor polisher comprising: a horizontally disposed elongated baseplate having a pair of spaced apertures extending therethrough; a pairof disk shaped applicators for applying foam cleaner to a rug to becleaned; each of said applicators having a hub extending upwardlythrough arespective one of said plate apertures, said hubs beingrotatably mounted in the plate and connectable to the floor polishermotor; a receptacle mounted on the upper side of said base plate betweensaid applicator hubs; means for introducing cleaning fluid into saidreceptacle; an agitator rotatably mounted in said receptacle forproducing foam from said fluid; a shaft driving said agitator extendingthrough the bottom wall of the receptacle and through said base plateand positioned in driven relation with one of said applicators; andmeans for ducting foam cleaner from the receptacle to the rug at a pointbetween the two applicators.

2. A rug cleaning device for operative attachment to a motor drivenrotary floor polisher comprising: a flat horizontally disposed elongatedbase plate having a pair of spaced apertures extending therethrough; apair of disk shaped applicators for applying foam cleaner to a rug to becleaned; each of said applicators having a hub extending upwardlythrough a respective one of said plate apertures and rotatably mountedtherein; a small cup-shaped receptacle mounted on the upper side of saidbase plate between said applicator hubs, said receptacle having a foamoutlet opening adjacent the top of the receptacle to insure thatunfoamed fluid is retained in the receptacle; means for introducingcleaning fluid into said receptacle; an agitator rotatably mounted insaid receptacle for producing foam from said fluid; said agitator havinga shaft extending through the bottom wall of the receptacle and throughsaid base plate and positioned in driven relation with one of saidapplicators; and means for ducting the foam formed in said receptaclefrom the receptacle to the rug at a point between the two applicators.

3. A rug cleaning device for operative attachment to a motor drivenrotary floor polisher comprising: a horizontally disposed elongated baseplate having a pair of spaced apertures extending therethrough; a pairof disk shaped applicators for applying foam cleaner to arug to becleaned; each of said applicators having a generally annular outer wall;a resilient band mounted on one of said outer walls; each of saidapplicators having a hub extending upwardly through a respective one ofsaid plate apertures and rotatably mounted therein; a receptacle movablymounted on the upper side of said base plate between said applicatorhubs; means for introducing cleaning fiuid into said receptacle; anagitator rotatably mounted in said receptacle for producing foam fromsaid fluid; said agitator having a shaft extending through the bottomwall of the receptacle and through said base plate between saidapplicator; means urging the lower side surface of the shaft into firmcontact with said resilient band so that the agitator is rotated by theapplicator; and said housing including means for ducting the foam formedin said receptacle from the receptacle to the rug at a point between thetwo applicators.

4. A rug cleaning device for operative attachment to a motor drivenrotary floor polisher comprising: a base plate having a pair of spacedapertures extending therethrough; a pair of disk shaped applicators forapplying foam cleaner to a rug to be cleaned; each of said applicatorshaving a generally annular outer wall; a resilient band mounted on theouter wall of one of said applicators; each of said applicators having ahub extending upwardly through a respective one of said plate aperturesand rotatably mounted therein; a housing mounted on the upper side ofsaid base plate between said applicator hubs for limited movement towardone of said applicators; means for introducing cleaning fluid into saidreceptacle; an agitator rotatably mounted in said receptacle forproducing foam from said fluid; said agitator having a shaft extendingthrough the bottom wall of the receptacle and through an enlargedopening in said base plate between said applicators; a tab extendingupwardly from said base plate toward said housing; a post depending fromsaid housing toward said base plate; a spring mounted between said taband said post urging said housing toward said applicator and bringingthe lower side surface of said shaft into firm contact with saidresilient band for driving said agitator to produce said foam; and meansfor conducting foam from said receptacle to the rug adjacent saidapplicator.

5. A rug cleaning device for operative attachment to a motor drivenrotary floor polisher comprising: a flat horizontally disposed elongatedbase plate having a pair of spaced apertures extending therethrough; apair of disk shaped applicators for applying foam cleaner to a rug to becleaned; each of said applicators having a hub extending upwardlythrough a respective one of said plate apertures said hubs beingrotatably mounted in the plate and connectable to the floor polishermotor; a housing mounted on the upper side of said base plate betweensaid applicator hubs; a cup-shaped receptacle positioned within saidhousing; means for introducing cleaning fluid into said receptacle; anagitator rotatably mounted in said receptacle for producing foam fromsaid fluid; a shaft driving said agitator extending through the bottomwall of the receptacle and through said base plate and having its lowerside surface frictionally engaging the edge or one of said applicatorsso that the agitator is rotated by the applicator; said housingincluding means for ducting foam cleaner from the receptacle to the rugat a point between the two applicators; and a distribution plateattached to the lower side of said base plate between said applicatorsto direct the foam against the applicators.

e. A rug cleaning device for operative attachment to a rotor drivenrotary floor polisher comprising: a horizontally disposed base platehaving a pair of spaced apertures extending therethrough; a pair of diskshaped applicators for applying foam cleaner to a rug to be cleaned;each of said applicators having a hub extending upwardly :through arespective one of said plate apertures, said hubs being rotatablymounted in the plate and connectable to .the floor polisher motor; areceptacle mounted on the upper side of said base plate between saidapplicator hubs; means for introducing cleaning fluid into saidreceptacle; an agitator rotatably mounted in said receptacle forproducing foam from said fluid; a shaft driving said agitator extendingthrough the bottom wall of the receptacle and through said base plateand positioned in driven relation with one of said agitators; means forducting foam cleaner from the receptacle to the rug at a point betweenthe two applicators; and a distribution plate attached to the lower sideof said base plate between said applicators to direct the foam againstthe applicators, said distribution plate including a horizontal portionextending between and above a portion of the applicators with adepending projection extending between the applicators, and furtherincluding a pair of walls on opposite sides of said projection whichextend downwardly from the front of the horizontal portion of thedistribution plates toward the applicators.

7. A rug cleaning device for operative attachments to a motor drivenrotary floor polisher comprising: a base plate having a pair of spacedapertures extending therethrough; a pair of applicators for applyingfoam cleaner to a rug to be cleaned; each of said applicators includinga central hub extending through a respective one of said apertures forrotatably mounting the applicators on the plate, said applicatorsfurther including an annular outer wall spaced from the hub with aplurality of spaced radial spokes connecting the hub to the outer walland forming a plurality of spaced openings; a receptacle mounted on theupper side of said base plate between said applicator hubs; means forintroducing cleaning fluid into said receptacle; an agitator rotatablymounted in said receptacle for producing foam from said fluid; saidagitator having a shaft extending through the bottom wall of thereceptacle and through said base plate, and positioned in drivenrelation with the outer wall of one of said applicators; means forconducting said foam from said receptacle to the rug be tween saidapplicators; and a distribution plate attached to the lower side of saidbase plate between said applicators to direct the foam against theapplicators; said foam being received in said plurality of spacedopenings and worked into the rug by said plurality of said spokes.

8. A rug cleaning device for operative attachment to a floor polisherhaving a pair of rotary driving studs comprising: a fiat horizontallydisposed elongated base plate having a pair of spaced aperturesextending therethrough; a pair of disk shaped applicators for applyingfoam cleaner to a rug to be cleaned; each of said applicators having ahub extending upwardly through a respective one of said plate aperturesand rotatably mounted therein; recess means formed in the upper ends ofsaid hubs for operative attachment to the driving studs of the floorpolisher; a receptacle mounted on the upper side of said base platebetween said applicator hubs; means for introducing cleaning fluid intosaid receptacle; an agitator rotatably mounted in said receptacle forproducing foam from said fluid; said agitator having a shaft extendin gthrough the bottom wall of the receptacle and through said base plateand positioned in driven relation with one of said applicators; andmeans for ducting the foam formed in said receptacle from the receptacleto the rug at a point adjacent the two applicators.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,596,041 8/26Young 15320 2,713,757 7/55 Brennecke ..15-230.1X

WALTER A. SCHEEL, Primary Examiner.

1. A RUG CLEAING DEVICE FOR OPERATIVE ATTACHMENT TO A MOTOR DRIVE ROTARYFLOOR POLISHER COMPRISING: A HORIZONTALLY DISPOSED ELONGATED BASE PLATEHAVING A PAIR OF SPACED APERTURES EXTENDING THERETHROUGH; A PAIR OF DISKSHAPED APPLICATORS FOR APPLYING FOAM CLEANER TO A RUG TO BE CLEANED;EACH OF SAID APPLICATORS HAVING A HUB EXTENDING UPWARDLY THROUGH ARESPECTIVE ONE OF SAID PLATE APERTURES, SAID HUBS BEING ROTATABLYMOUNTED IN THE PLATE AND CONNECTABLE TO THE FLOOR POLISHER MOTOR; ARECEPTACLE MOUNTED ON THE UPPER SIDE OF SAID BASE PALTE BETWEEN